Wed Apr 23 16:50:30 UTC 2025: ## Abbas Calls for Hamas Disarmament and Gaza Power Transfer

**Ramallah, West Bank –** Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the militant group relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, and transform itself into a political party. This call comes amidst ongoing efforts to address international concerns about the Palestinian Authority’s viability following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response.

Abbas made the announcement during a speech in Ramallah, where he is also expected to name a successor. He criticized Hamas’s actions, stating that the attack provided Israel with justification for its actions in Gaza. He further urged world leaders to pressure Israel to end its military campaign in Gaza, withdraw its forces, and halt settlement activities, emphasizing that lasting peace hinges on the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.

Hamas, which has consistently rejected calls from Israel and the United States to disarm, has yet to respond to Abbas’s latest demands. The group has previously accused Abbas of suppressing militant factions in the West Bank. This latest development adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation in the region.

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